Shade's Breath MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	2
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2002-10-07
Set symbol
Set name	Onslaught
Set code	ONS
Number	167
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Franz Vohwinkel

Key Takeaways

Offers card advantage and resource acceleration, key elements in dominating your MTG match.
Instant speed allows tactical plays and counters, providing flexibility in-game.
Requires careful consideration of mana base and hand resources to optimize its potential.

Text of card

Until end of turn, each creature you control becomes black, its creature type becomes Shade, and it gains "o B: This creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn."

The grim business of the Coliseum casts long shadows.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Shade’s Breath can offer significant card advantage by potentially enabling the drawing of multiple cards. This is crucial in any MTG strategy as it increases your options and resources, potentially giving you an upper hand over your opponent.

Resource Acceleration: If used strategically, Shade’s Breath has the ability to provide resource acceleration. This can give you a tangible lead in the game, allowing for the deployment of spells and creatures at a faster rate than your opponent.

Instant Speed: The fact that Shade’s Breath is an instant means it can be played at almost any time. This flexibility allows players to respond to an opponent’s actions, maintain surprise, and make decisions with the most current information available, giving them a tactical advantage during gameplay.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Shade’s Breath necessitates discarding another card from your hand, which can deplete your options, particularly when your hand is already scant.

Specific Mana Cost: Shade’s Breath calls for an exact blend of mana types to cast. This requirement may pose a constraint on deck diversity, leaning towards a necessity for a specific mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s mana value might be considered steep when weighed against its potential impact on the game state, especially if your strategy hinges on rapid deployment and swift tempo plays.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Shade’s Breath can be a game-changer in decks that aim to manipulate the graveyard. Its ability to convert graveyard contents into a sudden surge of power makes it a versatile addition, suitable for various strategy alterations mid-game.

Combo Potential: This card holds significant potential when combined with mechanics that rely on creature deaths or graveyard synergies. With Shade’s Breath, players can capitalize on sacrificing creatures then bolster the remaining ones, thus turning the tide in their favor.

Meta-Relevance: Shade’s Breath shines in a meta flooded with graveyard-based strategies or where board wipes are common. Its ability to quickly rebuild a formidable board state makes it an essential choice for players looking to stay competitive in such environments.

How to beat

Shade’s Breath adds a compelling dynamic to combat scenarios in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to evade blockers and increase power. This card operates distinctly compared to conventional buffs or direct damage spells. Its ability to grant shadow ensures your creature can only be blocked by creatures with shadow, which are few, making it potent for direct attacks. To counteract this, players might gravitate towards removal spells or abilities that do not specify “blockable” creatures. Board wipes can effectively neutralize the threat by bypassing the shadow mechanic entirely.

Enchantment destruction also presents as a practical solution. Destroying Shade’s Breath before the combat phase can expose the previously unblockable creatures to regular blocks. Moreover, controlling the board state through counterspells is another viable strategy. Preventing Shade’s Breath from hitting the field can save a player from a swift defeat. Adaptability and proactive defense are key when facing such an elusive threat.

Ultimately, recognizing the potential of Shade’s Breath and employing versatile responses will bolster a player’s defense against its surprising assaults. With the right approach, a savvy player can maintain control of the game despite the shadowy challenges posed by this unique card.

Cards like Shade's Breath

Shade’s Breath is a unique piece in the realm of creature enhancement spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its echoes resonate with spells like Unholy Strength, which also grants a creature an uptick in power, underlining the similarities of such single-target buff spells. However, Shade’s Breath distinguishes itself with its versatility—providing not only a power boost but potential evasion through various abilities depending on the shade the card references.

Comparably, cards like Giant Growth bolster a creature’s stats more significantly but only until end of turn. Shade’s Breath offers a more permanent solution to empowering your creatures. However, it comes at the cost of extraction from your graveyard, highlighting a unique gameplay dynamic. Then there’s the spell Spectra Ward, which not only increases strength but also adds a broad protection from all colors, altering the tactical landscape significantly, unlike Shade’s Breath’s more niche application.

Ultimately, Magic: The Gathering offers a diverse array of creature enchantments, and while Shade’s Breath might not always be the showstopper, its strategic use to maximize a creature’s potential in specific scenarios is what makes it distinguished in its class of spells.

Cards similar to Shade's Breath by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Shade's Breath MTG card by a specific set like Onslaught, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Shade's Breath and other MTG cards: